Awtar Krishna Kaul

Awtar Krishna Kaul was a film director who made the Hindi Film 27 Down (1974). It was his only film before he died in a tragic incident in 1974.

Awtar was born on September 27, 1939, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. His family later moved to Delhi. He initially worked for the Ministry of External Affairs, a job he held until 1964. In 1960, he was posted to the Indian Embassy in New York, where he decided to pursue a filmmaking course and met his American wife, Anne.

He returned to India in 1970 and joined Merchant Ivory Productions as an assistant director for their film Bombay Talkie. During this period, parallel cinema was emerging in India, and Kaul was encouraged by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to make his debut film.

Awtar Krishna Kaul is primarily known for his sole feature film, 27 Down, released in 1974. He wrote, directed, and produced this film, which starred MK Raina and Rakhee. The movie, shot in black and white, depicted the life of a railway ticket collector and used the train as a metaphor for life’s journey. It was noted for its realistic portrayal of everyday Indian life and sensitive handling of a young couple’s relationship.

Tragically, Awtar Krishna Kaul died on July 20, 1974, in a drowning accident in Bombay, on the very day 27 Down was announced as the winner of two National Awards. He was 34 years old at the time of his death.